A recent study funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has discovered a link between vitamin D and our eyesight. In tests on laboratory mice, six weeks of vitamin D supplementation resulted in reduced inflammation of the retina and improved vision. Scientists believe this has to do with the effect vitamin D has on the retina.
Researchers credited the improvement in eyesight to:
- Reduction in macrophages – Macrophages normally fight off infection in our bodies, but as we get older they sometimes don’t work as well. Misguided macrophages can actually cause harm to our eyes. Vitamin D supplementation reduced the number of macrophages in the eyes of lab mice and helped malfunctioning macrophages get back on track.
- Reduction in amyloid beta – Amyloid beta is a toxin that collects in our bodies as we age. As the amount of it increases, our risk for age-related macular degenerations (AMD) also increases. Vitamin D supplementation caused a reduction in the deposits of amyloid beta in the tested mice.
For those of us who live in North America and spend many hours indoors and away from sunlight, these makes vitamin D supplementation all that much more important. If you read our article, Demystifying Supplements: The 4 Essential Daily Suppplements You Need, you know vitamin D can also reduce your risk for diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune diseases. Scientists in this new study corroborated this, stating they believed, “vitamin D could be useful in helping prevent a range of age-related health problems, from deteriorating vision to heart disease.”1
Do you take vitamin D? If so, which brand and why? Post your answers to the comments below.